Summary
There are plenty of ways to start a campaign inDungeons & Dragons.
You could trya short adventure from Candlekeep Mysteriesor perhaps jump right intothe terrifying domains of dread.
But a great way to start your next adventure is to try a Starter’s kit.
Dragon Of Icespire Peak Cover Art By Greg Rutkowski
The Essentials kit is precisely this.
It can be a little daunting for a new DM to take on their first-ever campaign.
The book is very helpful, with simple quests to guide your players through.
Bathing In Dragon’s Blood by Katerina Ladon
But there are still lots of ways to improve the experience.
you’re free to add more plot hooks to get your players invested.
you could mix together campaigns.
Essentials Kit Playing The Game by Suzanne Helmigh
Perhaps you could even make it Dragonsof Icespire Peak instead of just the one.
A session zero is essential for all campaigns, not just Dragon of Icespire Peak.
Everyone must be on the same page about what to expect from the campaign.
Gates Of Barovia By Jedd Chevrier
But, by the time the party reaches Phandalin, perhaps they are missing.
Having connections to the town is a great way to ensure your players are genuinely invested in saving it.
There are plenty of other character motivations you could help craft to fit with this particular campaign.
Uzoma By Hinchel Or and Tomb Of The Nine Gods By Jedd Chevrier
Maybe one player character is seeking out dragon’s blood for a ritual?
The Essentials Kit does not have an exhilarating beginning.
You simply arrive at Phandalin and soon check out the notice board for potential quests.
D&D Mountain’s Toe Gold Mine Map Via Wizards Of The Coast
It could attack the caravan they traveled with on the way to Phandalin.
You could jump right into one of the notice board quests by introducing it more dramatically.
Begin the adventure with something thrilling.
The Amber Tomb By Sam Keiser
Still, they are usually relatively small and uneventful, such as finding a frozen dead orc.
Adding one or two encounters into the travel time between locations ensures a bit more surprise to the adventure.
A great option is togive reasons for the party to want to return to the locations they have visited.
Fizban’s Tresury Of Dragons Cover Art By Chris Rahn
It’s always fun for the party to hear how their visit has since impacted a location.
Instead, you could make them more sympathetic and open to solutions.
There is a possibility the party will ignore the quest and leave in an anticlimactic fashion.
Boromar Clan Nightclub By Suzanne Helmigh
To make matters worse, one of the Ochre Jellies is trapped near them, too.
10Incorporate Fizban’s Treasury Of Dragons
Fizban’s Treasury Of Dragons is unsurprisingly all about dragons.
It also has dragon-specific items and spells that the party might find in Cryovain’s hoard.
Dragon Of Icespire Peak Art Via Wizards Of The Coast - Dragon Of Icespire Peak Cover Art By Grzegorz Rutkowsk
Alternatively, they could hear about weapons, such as the Dragonlance, which deals additional damage to dragons.
This would be a tremendous weapon to seek out before the final battle.
For example, you could really play up the cowardice of the townmaster, Harbin Wester.
Sword Coast Map By Mike Schley
Most of the characters the players meet throughout the campaign do not have much reason to show up again.
It is a great idea togive them additional goals and ambitions to allow them to become regular characters.
Cryovain, the white dragon, can be quite an intimidating, scary encounter, especially early on.
Have the dragon appear nearby when the party is traveling.
It will keep the threat of the dragon in their minds.
You could also check that Cryovian attacks Phandalin.
The town could be in chaos right when the party returns from their latest quest.
Having Neverwinter prepared will help your players feel more immersed in the world.
